Node.js vs. Angular.js – Two Sides of the Same Coin

January 23, 2018

Web,Outsourcing

by K&C Team,

Web Development Team

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We want to make it clear: comparing Node.js with Angular.js will take a good deal of your time. And the reason does not lie in the numerous factors that are worth mentioning. It lies in the fact that the above concepts can not fundamentally be compared. To understand why, we suggest contemplating the ingredients we need for the successful development of any web application apart from a team of professionals. In general, there are three essential components:

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-Front-end

-Back-end

-Database

Front-end is what you can see on the screen (pages, images, pop-ups, and so on) and what is also referred to as a the client-side, that is, all the machines that execute client software programs.

At the beginning of web development history, just using HTML was enough. However, when JavaScript with CSS appeared, everything changed. The JavaScript language added complexity to the development of the visual part of an app. To create ideas, which have become even more intricate, while at the same time keeping code clear and structured, libraries, like midori, Dojo Toolkit, or jQuery, and frameworks, like Vue.js, Ember.js, or Angular.js were invented.

Back-end is what a regular user can’t see on the screen. Back-end represents a server (or server-side) that can be located in any part of the world and functions as a bedrock for the whole app exposing restful API's for Angular applications. What can we do with the help of a server? We can fetch data from a database, process it, and send further in response to client requests.

A database can be imagined as a big card catalogue. It has many application possibilities – for content management, fixing relationships with customers, invoices, accounts, and events. There are different ways to structure information in the database. With this, you can choose Relational/SQL database (MySql, Postgres, Oracle) or one of the noSQL databases like MongoDB.

Here, we need to grasp that Node.js is not “versus” Angular.js but “with” Angular.js – they are in the same boat!

Node.js

Node.js is a cross-platform runtime environment for the server-side web applications written in JavaScript. It is open-source, based on JS engine V8. This platform emerged in 2009, and this was the first time JavaScript technology was used for server-side development.

Nowadays, Node.js is highly valued due to its rapid learning curve and speed. This is seen from Stack Overflow’s research , where Node.js is the most popular technology among developers.

One more reason for its traction is how frequently of JavaScript in general is used. A powerful community, which formed around the platform and the size of which is steadily growing, proves this.

Angular.js

Angular.js is a JavaScript open-source front-end framework for dynamic web applications. It is supported by Google as well as a vast community. This framework is mainly appropriate for the development of single-page client-side applications. The primary target of Angular.js is the expansion of browser-based applications with the help of the MVC template and simplification of testing and development in general.

MEAN

We hope that you have understood the main reason to stop comparing Node.js and Angular.js from the above information. The first is the platform, and it relates to the backend (server-side), and Angular.js is a framework that relates to the front-end (client-side). Both are based on JavaScript. So, they are like relatives living in different towns.

And with this knowledge, one reasonable question comes to mind: is it possible to use them both in a single application? The answer: it is not only possible but recommended. A bright illustration of this is MEAN Stack.

MEAN is a collection of the technologies that are based on the JavaScript language. It’s an acronym, with the first letter of each technology creating the whole name.

M. – Mongo DB – NoSQL database

E. – Express.js – a Node.js web application framework

A. – Angular.js – front-end framework

N. – Node.js – JavaScript runtime environment

The most exciting thing about this MEAN stack is that it allows writing both the client and server sides in JavaScript. So, how do they all function?

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-Angular.js is applied for the development of the client side.

-The server side is maintained with the platform Node.js, that is, the Express.js framework is used.

-Also, Express.js is used when writing an API.

-And MongoDB is for storing data.

From this, we can see how Angular.js and Node.js can simultaneously be used for the development of a single web application.

Conclusion

This article was created to dispel one more misconception in the IT world: Node.js vs. Angular.js. We hope that we have now explained this! As far as web development goes, the K&C team is always an advocate of the literacy of our clients and partners.

WRITTEN BY

K&C Team

Web Development Team

Professional front-end and back-end developers, working on K&C website projects